At COP29 in Baku, AICS Nairobi spotlighted a uniquely Kenyan story of resilience, peace, and empowerment. The panel titled "Empowering Women, Conserving Nature, Building Peace: solutions from Kenya community conservancies", organized by AICS Nairobi together with the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), offered a journey through Kenya’s remote communities, showcasing how conservancies are transforming the fight against climate change, advancing women’s empowerment, and promoting peace.
Conservancies are recognized entities that, unlike traditional protected areas, are inhabited and require environmental protection strategies that also foster local development. Resident communities face immense challenges: climate change, resource scarcity, and interethnic conflicts in areas shared by different tribes. In these arid and semi-arid lands, with the support of NRT, communities have devised innovative solutions to thrive, turning challenges into opportunities and combining environmental conservation, economic development, and peacebuilding initiatives.
Held at the Italian Pavilion, the panel featured local leaders and activists who shared their experiences on how the conservancy model impacts the development and growth of local communities. Josephine Ekiru, a young peace ambassador for NRT, explained how tribal dialogue and the peace ambassador program supported by Italian cooperation have effectively reduced conflicts and tensions. Meanwhile, Francis Chachu Ganya, NRT’s Director of Institutional Relations, highlighted the daily work that strengthens local governance and promotes peace. Women’s empowerment was another key theme: through initiatives like BeadWORKS, pastoralist women are transforming their artisanal skills into sustainable income sources, gaining independence and improving their families’ living conditions.
The event opened with remarks from Prof. Francesco Corvaro, Italy’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, who emphasized the importance of the Mattei Plan in strengthening Italian cooperation in Africa. John Chumo, Secretary of Kenya’s State Department for Wildlife, brought the Kenyan government’s perspective, while the panel was moderated by journalist Zeynab Wandati.
The audience showed great interest in the topics discussed, contributing insights and comments that enriched the debate and highlighted the connections between climate change, environmental conservation, and economic development in Kenya. The country has experienced a biodiversity loss of approximately 68% between 1977 and 2016, with significant negative impacts on tourism, a key driver of its economy.
Visitors to the Italian Pavilion also enjoyed a unique journey into the heart of Kenya’s conservancies through a Virtual Reality video presented during the event. This immersive experience allowed participants to explore Kenyan ecosystems in 360 degrees.
The panelists with some members of the public celebrate the conclusion of the event
Josephine Ekiru showcasing some of the artisan handicraft produced through BEADworks
From left to right: Zeynab Wandati, Josephine Ekiru, Chachu Ganya during the panel discussion